The Oklahoma City Thunder went from contender to non-factor in the Western Conference, at least for the short-term, when the team traded Paul George. With the Los Angeles Clippers rising to power, among other teams, and the Thunder losing one half of the team’s dynamic duo, it seemed like the organization’s run of success is over. When the team traded Rusell Westbrook, a rebuild seemed like the next step.
However, when addressing the media on Thursday, Thunder general manager Sam Presti wasn’t so quick to say the team is in rebuild mode. He feels there are still steps to be made before the team can get to that point:
I wouldn’t say that we’ve started to rebuild. The primary focus for our organization based on the circumstances that we inherited this summer is, first, we need to reposition the franchise. Second to that, we need to replenish the franchise after 11 years of not ever being able to do that because we were in such a pursuit for maintaining a team that could get to the postseason and contend in the postseason year, after year, after year. And then ultimately, we will, just like any team in the NBA or in pro sports, ultimately have to rebuild the team. That tends to happen organically. I can’t sit here and tell you when that process will enact itself. Only that our vantage point and our view is going to be to create the most and longest runway for success. And not to shortcut that. And that our decisions from this point on are going to be on generating as much value for the organization as possible so that we, at some point, can recreate an elongated period of success like we’ve been fortunate to have. That may not necessarily begin itself next season.
Presti continued:
I think we’ve put ourselves to have a lot of different options as a result of the transactions that we’ve been able to make. But, ya know, I wouldn’t necessarily say that we’ve started that process. I think, you know, our focus right is on the team that we have. It’s gonna be a different iteration of Thunder team than we’ve seen over the last several years, but I would just say that we’re gonna take a very long view to make sure that we’re putting ourselves in position to have as long a run of success in Oklahoma City as we possibly can and not shortcut that process.
